It also adds three pump station upgrades along the Alberta to Superior Pipeline in Minnesota , which would allow the pipeline to transport 125,000 more barrels of crude oil per day to the gulf coast, up from 450,000

Enbridge officials say they planned for the upgrade from the beginning and since the upgrades in Minnesota aren't to the pipeline itself - the company avoids some of the red tape.

"There is a plethora of permits for any type of project we just don't have the same type of permits you would if you're putting a new line in. We went through that a few years ago," said Denise Hamsher, director, Enbridge Project Planning.

The other major portions of the project, including adding a second line and replacing a pipeline will still fall under usual federal and state regulations.